JOB DESCRIPTION POSITION: REPORTS TO: LOCATION: EMPLOYMENT: Senior Catholic Hospital Chaplain 2 year Fixed Term Executive Officer, NZ Catholic Bishops Conference ( NZCBC ) Wellington, NZ (Other sites may be considered for the suitable candidate) 2 Year Fixed Term Context Te Huinga o ngā Pīhopa Katorika o Aotearoa / the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference ( NZCBC ) is the assembly of the Catholic Bishops of New Zealand co-ordinating national activities and ministries of the Catholic Church. These include education, social justice, Māori advisory, communications and engagement with the public, liturgy, ecumenism, bioethics, interfaith relations, pastoral work in prisons and hospitals, and more. Bishop Patrick Dunn, Bishop of Auckland is the President of the Conference and Bishop Charles Drennan, Bishop of Palmerston North is the General Secretary. The work of the Conference is supported by the Secretariat which is managed by the Executive Officer. The Catholic Church in Aotearoa is committed to a deepening understanding of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / Treaty of Waitangi and strong bi-cultural way of working across all ministries. Hospital Chaplaincy The NZCBC works collaboratively with the Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy ( ICHC ) to provide spiritual care for people who are sick and receiving treatment throughout New Zealand s hospitals. The Ministry of Health ( MoH ) provides funding for this service via ICHC. Churches, including the Catholic Church, further support the costs of this ministry with the help of committed priests and lay people. The Catholic Church is committed to standing alongside and caring for the vulnerable and suffering. Hospital Chaplaincy is a visible sign of the love of Jesus Christ and every week across New Zealand, sick, elderly and dying people are visited, anointed, prayed for and accompanied during their time of need. Pope Francis has reminded us that Occasionally our world forgets the special value of time spent at the bedside of the sick, since we are in such a rush; caught up as we are in a frenzy of doing, of producing, we forget about giving ourselves freely, taking care of others, being responsible for others. Hospital Chaplaincy is a service of time and presence which has been a valued part of the New Zealand health care system for generations. 1
Purpose of the Role: As the Senior Catholic Hospital Chaplain you will act on behalf of the NZCBC in carrying out the following; liaison with the CEO of ICHC to ensure that the Catholic Chaplains deliver services in a manner consistent with the requirements of the funding and DHB Policies and Procedures and that, where appropriate, a collaborative approach is taken to appointments and ongoing professional development; and provide professional and pastoral leadership to the team of Catholic Hospital Chaplains who act in the name of their Bishop in providing Hospital Chaplaincy services in New Zealand; and develop this ministry in accord with the wider pastoral plans of the bishops. The position is a new Fixed Term role developed to review and support the changes needed to help Catholic hospital ministry adapt to new standards and ways of ministering to people in health care. The fixed term nature of this reflects the need to review chaplaincy in conjunction with the Dioceses, determine variations and ensure the formation of a sustainable pastoral operating model, and to design a system of interaction, collaboration, and compliance reporting with ICHC. Key Objectives and Accountabilities: 1. Leadership and Direction Provide visible and effective leadership and pastoral support to the team of Catholic Chaplains and Volunteer Chaplain Assistants throughout the country. You will do this within the context of ensuring that every Chaplain understands the pastoral objectives of the NZCBC in providing this ministry. Actively make connections with Māori in ensuring the direction of Hospital Chaplaincies reflects the bi-cultural nature of the Catholic Church. Recognise the important ways in which hospital chaplaincy needs to adapt to effectively support Pasifika communities and people from a range of ethnic backgrounds. Review and formulate an ongoing vision, mission and structure for the effective delivery of hospital chaplaincy in New Zealand in collaboration with Katorika Māori NZCBC, each Bishop in his individual diocesan capacity, the Diocesan Managers, the NZCBC appointed Trustees on ICHC, and the staff of ICHC. Ensure that chaplaincy teams works cohesively and collaboratively at each location, within the wider NZ network and also with our ecumenical colleagues and that you ensure that the Catholic culture is such that the efforts of our volunteers are valued. 2
2. Review Catholic Chaplaincy Review the effectiveness of the current hospital chaplaincy model on behalf of the NZCBC and provide recommendations that help improve the provision of hospital chaplaincy and care of the sick in each diocese. Establish an effective working relationship with ICHC and create systems, policies and processes that will ensure that the NZCBC works collaboratively with ICHC to meet the requirements of the MoH. 3. Operations In consultation with Diocesan Managers (or their designated person) and hospital managers, oversee and supervise the operations of the Catholic chaplaincy service, ensuring that pastoral support, religious services and sacramental needs of patients and staff in the DHB hospital network are effectively provided for consistent with Catholic Theology and the direction of the NZCBC. You will report to each Diocesan Bishop on delivery. Ensure that appropriately qualified, skilled and experienced candidates are appointed to hospital chaplaincy positions in consultation with each diocese and the ICHC. Ensure systems are in place for chaplaincy staff and volunteers to receive appropriate induction and oversee their ongoing performance in consultation with the Diocesan Managers and hospital management. Make pastoral visitations to support Chaplains and be available for consultation and discussion with Chaplains and assist them in crisis situations. 4. Quality and Stewardship Ensure that the obligations under the ICHC and MoH contract, through which Catholic Chaplaincy services receive partial funding, are adhered to and that appropriate documentation and reporting is provided in a timely manner to ICHC. Ensure that all Catholic Chaplains are inducted into and adhere to all DHB systems, policies and procedures for the Hospital within which they work. Where issues arise, you will work with the DHB management and ICHC to resolve these in a timely manner. Consult and advise the NZCBC and ICHC with respect to the distribution of the portion of funding provided from the MoH via ICHC ensuring that it is used consistently with the contractual obligations. Ensure that all Catholic Chaplains adhere to the Health and Safety systems, policies and procedures of the relevant DHB and their Diocese. 3
Monitor all issues relating to Health and Safety and ensure that appropriate action is taken to resolve them and prevent, where possible, recurrence. 5. Formation and Professional Development Support appointees to understand the expectations of their Diocesan Bishops and ensure that they actively participate in ongoing spiritual and theological formation with other diocesan chaplains. Ensure that the Catholic Chaplains are appropriately trained and qualified and oversee any ongoing development required for them to meet standards for qualification (this would include facilitating the appropriate training and formation of chaplains in the Te Tiriti o Waitangi / Treaty of Waitangi). Ensure that Catholic Chaplains participate in the development and delivery of ecumenical training that is required for all Chaplains. Skills, experience and qualifications of the role: Required: Experience in pastoral ministry within a Catholic context Strong understanding and experience of the Catholic faith with a demonstrated commitment to spiritual formation Demonstrated ability to work in a Māori context and to make connections with Whanau, Hapu, and Iwi in supporting Māori who are in the care of the hospital. Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / Treaty of Waitangi Qualifications in theology or pastoral ministry Demonstrated collaborative leadership style Knowledge and ability to support a variety of people from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds Friendly, patient, and high levels of emotional resilience. Respect for the dignity of each person and a compassionate commitment to high levels of care. Other qualities: Hospital chaplaincy experience and a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry (Hospital) from The Catholic Institute of Aotearoa Strong existing relationships with Katorika Māori Completion of Clinical Pastoral Education qualification Confidence in at least a basic understanding of Te Reo Māori Familiarity with government contracts and managing compliance requirements Experience in facilitating organizational change Report writing and presentation skills 4
Key Relationships: NZCBC and their Executive Officer to whom you report Catholic Trustees, ICHC Diocesan Managers (or their designate) Te Runanga o te Hahi Katorika ki Aotearoa and with Katorika Māori communities in each diocese CEO and staff of ICHC DHB Managers 5